Rate of obesity within a mixed-breed group of horses in Ireland and their owners ’ perceptions of body condition and useability of an equine body condition scoring scale
ConclusionsEquine obesity is a significant problem in this population in Ireland. Horse owners ’ ability to accurately judge their horse’s condition does not improve with provision of instructions on body condition scoring. These results combined with owners’ feedback on the Henneke BCS system indicate that it is not a tool that can be reliably used by owners. (Source: Irish Veterinary Journal)
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - April 6, 2023 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Behaviour change interventions for responsible antimicrobial use on farms
ConclusionsThese behaviour change interventions can be taken, adapted, and put into practice by the agri-food community to support good animal health practices and responsible antimicrobial use on farms. (Source: Irish Veterinary Journal)
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - April 3, 2023 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Association between body condition score, testicular haemodynamics and echogenicity, nitric oxide levels, and total antioxidant capacity in rams
In conclusion, body condition score is associated with both testicular hemodynamic and the antioxidant capacity in rams. (Source: Irish Veterinary Journal)
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - March 9, 2023 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Radiographic quantification of the normal and near-normal coxofemoral conformation in Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds: a comparative study
ConclusionsOverall, normal and near-normal CFJS of German Shepherds had lesser AFH coverage and steeper acetabular slope angle compared to Labrador Retrievers. Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds with CE-angles< 27° and < 21.8°, dorsal AFH coverage width indices< 51 and < 49%, and/or dorsal AFH coverage area indices< 53 and < 50%, respectively, may be consistent with CHD. Thus, the authors would recommend excluding subjects with lower values from breeding. Validating the reported measurements is still warranted. (Source: Irish Veterinary Journal)
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - February 27, 2023 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Comparison of milk and grass composition from grazing Irish dairy herds with and without milk fat depression
ConclusionsThis research reports improved milk protein percentage, milk casein percentage and cheddar cheese yield from HMF herds compared to LMF herds. Milk processability was not impacted by low milk fat percentage. Pasture NDF and total fatty acid content was similar in HMF herds and LMF herds. Milk fat percentage had a strong negative association (r = -0.40) with pasture crude protein content in MMF herds (MF 3.31–3.94%). Correlation values between pasture chemical and FA composition and milk fat percentage in LMF herds and HMF herds were low, indicating that diet is not the only causative factor for variation in...
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - February 27, 2023 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Improving infection control in a veterinary hospital: a detailed study on patterns of faecal contamination to inform changes in practice
ConclusionsResults suggested that movement between the small and large animal hospital areas may have been responsible for cross-contamination and possible hospital-acquired infections. The data show that cross-sectional and longitudinal monitoring of faecal contamination across all hospital areas can play an important role in informing review of infection control protocols in veterinary hospital settings. Changes in practices in the hospital based on results generated are outlined. (Source: Irish Veterinary Journal)
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - February 13, 2023 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
N-terminal pro –B-type natriuretic peptide levels in normotensive and hypertensive dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease stage B
ConclusionsThese findings suggest that NT-proBNP concentrations are higher in dogs with MMVD stage B with systemic hypertension than in normotensive dogs with MMVD stage B. Therefore, clinicians should be aware that NT-proBNP could be elevated in the presence of systemic hypertension. (Source: Irish Veterinary Journal)
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - February 8, 2023 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Retrospective analysis of 131 feline uroliths from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (2010-2020)
ConclusionsThis is the first epidemiologic study of urolithiasis from cats in the ROI and NI. The most prevalent types of uroliths in our study population were struvite and calcium oxalate. Due to the low number of urolith submissions, changes in the incidence of different uroliths could not be accurately determined. Increasing age was associated w ith calcium oxalate formation while younger cats were more commonly diagnosed with struvite urolithiasis which can be medically dissolved. Therefore, urolith dissolution is more likely to be successful in young cats than older cats. (Source: Irish Veterinary Journal)
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - February 6, 2023 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Sacrococcygeal epidural administration of 0.5% bupivacaine in seven cats undergoing pelvic or hind limb orthopaedic procedures
ConclusionIn these seven anaesthetised cats, 0.2 or 0.3 mL/kg of 0.5% bupivacaine, administered alone or in combination with morphine into the sacrococcygeal epidural space, enhanced antinociception so that intraoperative rescue analgesia was unnecessary in all but one cat. It also reduced the anticipated requirement for postoperative opioid use. Howev er, a high incidence of hypotension was observed in the cats in this report, and hence intraoperative blood pressure monitoring should be considered mandatory in anaesthetised cats following epidural injection of local anaesthetic agents, regardless of injection site. (Sou...
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - February 2, 2023 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Oxidative stress biomarkers in dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia
ConclusionIn conclusion, significantly lower serum TAC in dogs with BPH compared to non-affected dogs suggests a potential involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of BPH in dogs. More studies are needed to clarify the role of oxidative stress in the development of BPH in dogs. (Source: Irish Veterinary Journal)
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - December 15, 2022 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Prescribing and sales of intramammary antimicrobials in Ireland in 2019 and 2020: the role of milk purchasers
ConclusionsThe study findings provide important insights into mastitis control and intramammary AM stewardship in the Irish dairy industry. Significant differences between milk purchasers were observed in the quality of milk, as measured through somatic cell count (SCC) values, from supplying herds. This warrants further research. In the context of intramammary AM prescribing, veterinary oversight under the Animal Remedies Regulation 2007 to 2017 was very limited during 2019 and 2020. There were also significant associations between EMA classification and route of sale during 2019 and 2020, reinforcing the need for Irish v...
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - November 19, 2022 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Gabapentin, a human therapeutic medication and an environmental substance transferring at trace levels to horses: a case report
AbstractGabapentin, 1-(Aminomethyl)cyclohexaneacetic acid, MW 171.240, is a frequently prescribed high dose human medication that is also used recreationally. Gabapentin is orally absorbed; the dose can be 3,000 mg/day and it is excreted essentially unchanged in urine. Gabapentin is stable in the environment and routinely detected in urban wastewater. Gabapentin randomly transfers from humans to racing horses and is at times detected at pharmacologically ineffective / trace level concentrations in equine plasma and urine. In Ohio racing between January 2019 and July 2020,18 Gabapentin identifications, all less than 2 ng...
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - October 4, 2022 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Irish farmers ’ interactions with regional veterinary laboratories- reasons, results, reactions: a survey
ConclusionPositively, this survey shows the desire of participants to submit to the laboratories to guide treatment and vaccination protocols, potentially indicating that positive engagement between stakeholders and the RVLs will help promote optimal animal health and promote responsible antimicrobial use. Results also show the critical role of veterinarians in continued disease surveillance on farms. Maintaining engagement with all farming sectors will be essential in promoting successful animal health surveillance. (Source: Irish Veterinary Journal)
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - September 27, 2022 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Thoracolumbar retrolaminar block in seven dogs undergoing spinal surgery
ConclusionsThis case report presents the performance of the retrolaminar block technique as part of multimodal analgesia management in seven dogs undergoing thoracolumbar spinal surgery. (Source: Irish Veterinary Journal)
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - August 13, 2022 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
Understanding the dog population in the Republic of Ireland: insight from existing data sources?
ConclusionsThis study highlights the challenges faced when using existing national data to gain insights into the dog population of Ireland. The linking of existing national databases (individual dog identification, dog licencing, dog control statistics) has the potential to improve both the representativeness and accuracy of information about the Irish pet dog population. In the next phases of our work, we will focus on the work of dog welfare organisations, given both the increased role played by these organisations and the substantial public funding that has been committed in this sector. (Source: Irish Veterinary Journal)
Source: Irish Veterinary Journal - July 14, 2022 Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research
